RESIDENTS and staff from a North-East care home hit the right notes when they recorded their own version of a Beatles hit.

Six staff and five residents from Willow Green Care Home, in Darlington, were in the recording studio on Friday (May 23) morning.

They performed a cover version of With A Little Help From My Friends at town's Forum Music Centre.

The song has been adopted by the Alzheimer's Society to promote Dementia Awareness Week.

Musicians Alesha Dixon, Lily Allen and Chris Martin are among the celebrities to support the national campaign.

Residents at the care home, in Eastbourne Road, have spent a week learning the song and practising in an effort to be pitch-perfect.

They enjoyed recording the Beatles song so much they followed it up with an impromptu version of You Are My Sunshine.

Nicola Laycock, activities co-ordinator at the home, who organised the recording session, said it had been an enjoyable experience for staff and residents.

She said: "Some of our residents have dementia, so they made the effort to practice and remember the words.

"They did fantastically, I am really proud.

"We are not the best vocally, but I am hoping the engineer is good with tweaking and will make it sound great."

The two-track CDs are available from the home on 01325-465770.

Proceeds will be split between Alzheimer's Society and the home, with residents planning another session in the run-up to Christmas.